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New briefs: Mesa County vaccine requirements, new business, tattoos for a cause, & more

DOWNTOWN BID ANNOUNCEMENT

The board of the Downtown Development Authority/Business Improvement District voted to form a BID Management Team by hiring Robin Brown and Allison Blevins as co-directors of the BID.

Robin has been working for the BID for over a year as the Special Events Coordinator and will continue to manage the BID events as the Event Management Director.



Allison has been interim Marketing and Communications Manager for the BID since May and will continue to manage the marketing, outreach and communications of the organization as the Communications and Marketing Director.

Both are also local business owners and are excited to bring their entrepreneurial spirit to the Business Improvement District. Their list of short-term goals for the BID include facilitating greater engagement of district members and the community, working with BID members to create a Special Events policy for Downtown, and working to increase participation and draw of Downtown Signature Events.



For more information, please contact Robin Brown robinb@gjcity.org or Allison Blevins allisonb@gjcity.org.

MUSEUM EVENT

The Museum of the West (462 Ute Ave., Grand Junction) will host a behind the scenes tour on Friday, July 17, at 5:30 p.m. The tour costs $5 per person.

GET TATTOOED FOR A CAUSE

Calamity Jane’s Tattoo, located at 803 North Ave., in Grand Junction, will offer semicolon tattoos for $40 to help raise awareness for suicide prevention.

Calamity Jane’s will ink semicolons on a first-come-first-served basis, on Saturday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Each semicolon tattoo will take less than 10 minutes. Patrons must be 18 years and older, however a 17 year old may get inked with a parent present.

In grammar, a semicolon is used to pause, not end a sentence. Now through the efforts of one nonprofit organization, a semicolon is being identified with a greater cause. Project Semicolon is a nonprofit encouraging people to tattoo semicolons on their body to support those dealing with mental illness or suicide. The semicolon is intended to encourage people to keep going in life.

Half of all the proceeds from Saturday’s event will go to Suicide Prevention Foundation, a local nonprofit organization committed to providing programs and training in support of suicide prevention awareness and education.

In 2014, 36 people died by suicide in Mesa County. So far in 2015 there have been (unofficially) 22 suicides.

LIBRARY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Manny Miracle was recently named the new Head of Literacy Services for Mesa County Libraries. In her new position, Miracle oversees the Mesa County Libraries Literacy Center, which provides adult literacy services, language learning opportunities, and U.S. citizenship instruction.

Rachel Hanson, a longtime staff member of Mesa County Libraries, has been named Head of Information Services for the library.

In that position, Hanson will oversee the professional librarians who help patrons find materials to meet their needs. Information Services also organizes many guest speaker appearances at Mesa County Libraries.

NEW STORE OPENING

Flip Flop Shops is moving to Grand Junction to help residents expose their toes year-round with the hottest brands and latest styles of flip flops and casual footwear. The only global lifestyle retail franchise to capture the flip flop connoisseur way of life, Flip Flop Shops will open its doors at the newest location at Fisher’s Plaza — 625 24 ½ Road in Grand Junction on Thursday, July 16, and will host a grand opening celebration on Saturday, July 18.

The new shop is the first location in Grand Junction and the first location for owners Brigitte and Chris Cunningham.

For further information on Flip Flop Shops and products carried, visit http://www.flipflopshops.com.

SALMONELLA CAUTIONS

Four multi-state outbreaks of human Salmonella infections have been linked to live poultry in backyard flocks. Outbreaks have been reported in 40 states, including Colorado. Eighty-six percent of those who were interviewed claimed contact with live poultry the week before their illness began.

Many Mesa County residents keep backyard flocks and should take precautions to avoid getting sick. Even organically fed poultry can have Salmonella. Chicks, ducklings and other live poultry can carry Salmonella in their droppings and on their bodies (feathers, feet and beaks), even when they appear to be healthy and clean.

Persons with Salmonella infection may develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12-72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seventy days.

Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching live poultry or anything in the area where the birds live and roam. Do not let live poultry inside the house and do not snuggle or kiss the birds, touch your mouth, or eat or drink around live poultry.

Mesa County Health Department investigates cases of Salmonella in the county.

MESA COUNTY ENCOURAGES VACCINES BEFORE SCHOOL

School will be in session in less than a month. Now is the time to make sure kids are up-to-date on vaccinations.

DTaP/Tdap are required for all School District 51 students. State law requires parents to provide updated immunization records at school registration and throughout the year. DTaP/Tdap protect against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough), which can be deadly.

Whooping cough has been on the rise in Mesa County for several years, with 18 cases reported in 2014. Statewide, pertussis tripled between 2011 and 2014.

Vaccines protect you and our community. There are certain populations such as very young children, or those with certain medical reasons, who cannot be vaccinated.

Immunization schedules can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/child-adolescent.html.

Mesa County Health Department offers vaccinations and serves all patients, regardless of inability to pay.

Call 970-248-6900 to make an appointment.

The Health Department will host walk-in immunization clinics from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, July 22-23. Bring immunization records for faster service.


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